Multicolor rotary offset printing press with cylinder interruption



United States Patent [72] Inventor James Burto R m ABSTRACT: A multi color offset printing press of the rotary Arlington Heights, Illinois type in which a single circumferentially color-segmented plate cylinder is disposed above a single circumferentially segmented blanket cylinder, and the impression cylinder is disposed to one side of the blanket cylinder. A series of circumferentially extending cams is formed on the plate cylinder to successively move corresponding series of cam followerdriven inking and dampener rolls into and out of engagement with corresponding color segments of the plate cylinder as the plate cylinder rotates. A second series of cams is mounted on the sides of the blanket cylinder. This second series cooperates with cam followers connected to the journal members of the blanket and impression cylinders for tripping the 1 1/ 137, blanket cylinder alternately to a print position, at which it en- 101/148, 101/209, 101/247, [OI/415.1

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gages the plate cylinder, and to a trip position, at which it is out of engagement with the plate cylinder, and for tripping the impression cylinder alternately to a print position. at

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS tions thereof with respect to one or more of the corresponding color segments of the plate and blanket cylinders.

l0l/207X 101/218 1/1932 Sweet et 101/185 The plate cylinder is driven by a variable speed motor. The rolls of the dampener systems which engage and apply the water to the plate cylinder are driven at a speed proportionate to the speed of the plate cylinder. The fountain rolls of the um ed rr ea uh CC mm SP 99 01 99 ll 4 1 30 57 59 9'1 30 93 1 Ill 00 11 a a a Q n WM 0 "e m a :lgu mm. DKR 44 456 999 ll] 97 4 5 8 7 244 0037 586 1 ,9 222 3,146,705 9/1964 Ritzerfeld et al. l0l/l44 dampener systems are mounted on a door member which is FOREIGN PATENTS pivotally mounted on the frame of the press and are in- 8/1914 GreatBritain.......,........

Primary Examiner Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-J. Reed Fisher 101/247 dividually driven by variable speed motors. Speed controls operatively interconnect the plate cylinder motor and the fountain roll motors to vary the ratio of plate cylinder speed to fountain roll speed as a function of variations in plate cylinder speed.

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fizzzeafizzrozzz oazee lax WWW a ATTORNEYS MULTICOLOR ROTARY OFFSET PRINTING PRESS WITI-I CYLINDER INTERRUPTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to printing presses and more particularly to the field of multicolor rotary offset printing presses.

Printing presses of this general category are known in the art. See, for example, Firm US. Pat. No. 1,025,258. Generally such presses employ multiple plate cylinders in multiple color applications, although my copending application Ser.No. 464,784 filed June 17, 1965, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,347,160, discloses a multicolor press having a single plate cylinder, a single blanket cylinder and a single impression cylinder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention employs a single plate cylinder which is circumferentially divided into various color segments which equal in number the number of colors to be printed on the press. The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein comprises a four-color press but the principles of the present invention are applicable to a multicolor rotary offset press regardless of the number of colors the press is designed to accommodate.

The blanket cylinder is located directly below the plate cylinder and is equal in diameter to the plate cylinder. The impression cylinder is spaced horizontally from the blanket cylinder and has a diameter equal to one quarter the diameter of the blanket cylinder since the impression cylinder rotates four times for each revolution of the blanket cylinder.

In normal four-color operation all four-color segments of the plate cylinder engage corresponding segments of the blanket cylinder during each revolution of the two cylinders, and the impression cylinder similarly engages the corresponding four-color segments of the blanket cylinder for printing all four colors. However the present invention contemplates the provision of means for tripping the blanket cylinder out of printing engagement with the plate cylinder and the impression cylinder out of printing engagement with the blanket cylinder for omitting one or more of the four colors from the final printed sheet.

A plurality of inking and dampening systems are disposed around a portion of the periphery of the plate cylinder and include means for moving their respective ink and water dampener rolls into engagement only with their corresponding color segments of the plate cylinder. ln the event one (or more) of the colors is to be omitted, however, means is provided for maintaining the corresponding ink and dampener rolls completely out of engagement with their respective color segment of the plate cylinder.

In order to trip the blanket cylinder between the print and trip positions thereof a pair of elongated arms are pivotally mounted at one of the ends thereof to the frame of the press for supporting and journaling the blanket cylinder in the order of second class levers. The opposite ends of the arms are connected to an eccentric shaft which is rotated by cooperating cam and cam follower members operatively interconnecting the blanket cylinder and the eccentric shaft. The impression cylinder is mounted on an eccentric shaft for movement between its print and trip positions with respect to the blanket cylinder and cam and cam follower means also operatively interconnect the blanket cylinder and the eccentric shaft which journals the impression cylinder. By virtue of this arrangement the blanket and impression cylinders are moved between their print and trip positions accurately and without undue vibration of the press. The blanket cylinder is also spring biased into the plate cylinder for selectively controlling the nip pressure of the print couple therebetween. Electric solenoids are provided for selectively holding the blanket and impression cylinders in the print positions. When the solenoids for one or more colors are not energized, the blanket and impression cylinders are moved by springs from the print position which they always assume in the gap between each plate, to the trip position thereof for omitting one or more of the colors of the press.

Each of the inking and dampening systems comprises a vibrator roll for applying the ink or water evenly to a pair of ink or dampener rolls which actually engage the plate cylinder. The plate engaging rolls are movable into and out of engagement with the plate cylinder while maintaining continuous contact with their corresponding vibrator roll. A cam and cam follower arrangement interconnects the plate cylinder and the plate engaging rolls so that the movement of the rolls is synchronized with rotation of the plate cylinder and so that each of the plate engaging rolls contacts only its corresponding color segment of the plate cylinder. Electric solenoids are also provided for holding the plate engaging rolls out of contact with the plate cylinder when one or more of the colors 15 to be omitted.

Each of the dampening systems comprises a fountain roll which turns continuously but at a speed which varies nonlinearly with respect to variations in the speed of the plate cylinder. A transfer roller oscillates back and forth between the fountain roll and a vibrator roll during each revolution of the plate cylinder. The motor driven fountain rolls are mounted on a door member which in turn is pivotally mounted on the frame of the press for greater accessibility to the fountain rolls and their associated fountains and transfer rollers as well as for greater accessibility to the vibrator rolls and the plate cylinder itself. I

The overall arrangement as well as specific features embodied in the present invention provides for increased press speed. simplified construction, improved printing characteristics. reduced overall size, improved performance and a longer useful life. Ease of operation and maintenance are important advantages of the present invention.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a multicolor rotary offset printing press having a single plate cylinder mounted on a fixed axis. a single blanket cylinder and a single impression cylinder and means for tripping the blanket cylinder into and out of engagement with the plate cylinder and for tripping the impression cylinder into and out ofengagement with the blanket cylinder.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for tripping the blanket and impression cylinders.

Another object is to provide an improved inking system for a multicolor rotary offset press.

Another object is to provide an improved dampening system for a multicolor rotary offset press.

Another object is to provide a dampening system comprising a fountain roll, a transfer roller and a vibrator roll in which the transfer roller oscillates between the fountain roll and the vibrator roll during each revolution of the plate cylinder and remains in contact with each of the rolls during a fixed angle of rotation of the plate cylinder. The speed of rotation of the fountain roll is nonlinearly variable with respect to the speed of rotation of the plate cylinder to accommodate variations in requirements in the transfer of water to the plate cylinder as the speed of the plate cylinder varies.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multicolor rotary offset press wherein the blanket cylinder and the impression cylinder are moved from print to trip positions by mechanical means but are selectively maintained in such print positions by electromechanical means.

Another object is to provide a multicolor offset press wherein the plate-engaging rolls of the inking and dampening systems are moved out of engagement with the plate cylinder by mechanical means but are selectively maintained in the disengaged positions thereof by electromechanical means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a more compact multicolor rotary offset printing press with increased printing speed and ease of operation and high performance pr'nting characteristics.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which preferred structural embodiments incorporating the principles of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative example only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multicolor rotary offset printing press constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention with certain parts removed and others shown in section for purposes of clarity and to show the relative disposition of parts.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of one side of the press with certain of the basic parts indicated in dashed lines to show the overall arrangement thereof.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the press taken from the same side as FIG. 2 and with parts omitted to emphasize portions of the blanket and impression cylinder supporting and tripping assemblies.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but is taken from an opposite side of the press.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal substantially sectional view taken along lines VV of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a vertical view taken along lines VI-VI of FIG. 4 with certain parts shown in section and other parts removed to simplify the drawing.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged elevational view of portions of the impression cylinder supporting and tripping assembly shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged elevational view of portions of the blanket cylinder supporting and tripping mechanism locked in their printing positions shown in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are taken along lines XI-XI and XII-XII. respectively, of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of the plate cylinder of the illustrated embodiment of the invention with portions thereof shown in section.

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the plate cylinder taken along XIV-XIV ofFlG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the plate cylinder with a plurality of inking and dampening systems arranged therearound, some parts thereof having been removed and others being shown in phantom lines for clarity.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an inking roll and dampener roll drive arrangement taken along line XVI-X- VI of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of another drive arrangement for driving the ink vibrator rolls and ink fountain rolls and is taken along line XVII-XVII of FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a drive arrangement interconnecting the ink vibrator rolls and the ink fountain rolls and taken along line XVIII-XVIII of FIG. 15.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the ink fountain roll drive assembly taken along line XIXXIX of FIG. 15.

FIG. 20 is a fragmental elevational view ofa walking beam assembly associated with the ink vibrator rolls and taken along line XX-XX of FIG. 15.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of an inking system partly in section and partly in elevation and identified in FIG. 15 in the area encircled at XXI-XXI.

FIGS. 22, 23 and 24 are sectional view taken along lines XXII-XXII; XXIII-XXIII and XXIV-XXIV respectively, of FIG. 21.

FIG. 25 is an enlarged side elevational view of an ink fountain system of the present invention and is identified in FIG. 2

in the area encircled at XXV-XXV.

FIGS. 26 and 27 together comprise a front elevational view of the ink fountain systems taken along line XXVI-XXVI of FIG. 25, FIG. 27 being an extension of the left end of FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a front elevational view of the dampening systems taken along line XXVIILXXVIII of FIG. 2.

FIG. 29 is a side elevational view of the dampening systems taken along line XXIX-XXIX of FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of the fountain roll and transfer roller of one of the dampening systems taken along line XXX-XXX of FIG. 28.

FIG. 31 is a fragmentary elevational view of the vibrator rolls of one of the dampening systems taken along lines XXX XXXI of FIG. 29.

FIG. 32 is a side elevational view of the dampening systems showing some of the rolls in phantom lines for clarity and showing portions of the cam follower members shown in FIG 29 for oscillating the transfer rollers of the dampening systems.

FIGS. 33, 34 and 35 are elevational views taken along lines XXXIILXXXIII: XXXIV-XXXIV and XXXV-XXXV of FIG. 32.

FIG. 36 is a schematic wiring diagram of the plate cylinder and dampening system fountain roll electric drive arrangements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED FMBODIMEN'I Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 50 indicates generally a multicolor rotary offset printing press constructed in accordance with the present invention. The press 50 may be used either as a production or a proof press since the principles of the present invention are applicable equally to both types of presses.

GENERAL ARRANGEMENT In order to facilitate an understanding of the invention the general arrangement thereof will be described at the outset The press 50 comprises a press frame 51 having a pair of spaced parallel vertical wall members 52 and 53 Included in each of the wall members 52 and 53 is a heavy plate as indicated at 54 which forms an internal v-all surface and which together bear the major portion of the weight of the press.

Extending between the wall plates 54. 54 on spaced parallel horizontal axes are a plate cylinder 56. a blanket cylinder 57 and an impression cylinder 58. The plate cylinder 56 is of the circumferentially segmented type. that is, it is divided around the circumference thereof in spaced portions equal in number to the number of colors which the illustrated embodiment of the press 50 is arranged to accommodate. In the illustrated embodiment the press 50 is arranged to accommodate four colors, and thus the plate cylinder is circumferentially divided into four color segments. Each of the segments receives a plate for printing one of the four colors. as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

The blanket cylinder 57 is disposed directly vertically belovi the plate cylinder 56 and is of the same diameter as is the plate cylinder so that each of the four quadrants of the blanket cylinder 57 receives the ink transferred from one of the four plates of the plate cylinder. The impression cylinder 58 is situ ated to one side of the blanket cylinder 57 and has a diameter which is equal to one-quarter of the diameter of the plate cylinder 56 and the blanket cylinder 57.

The press frame 51 may be characterized as comprising a front side 59 and a rear side 60. The impression cylinder 58 is disposed at the front side of the press frame 51 with respect to the blanket cylinder 57.

The plate cylinder 56, the blanket cylinder 57 and the im pression cylinder 58 are all journaled for rotation on the press frame 51. They are also drivingly interconnected for JOIIII rotation, that is, the rotation of all of the cylinders occurs simultaneously.

The main power source for operating the press 50 com prises an electric motor 61 mounted on the wall member 53 and connected to a main drive gear 62 through a speed reducer 63. The gear 62 is in mesh with a gear 64 formed on the blanket cylinder 57 which in turn is in mesh with a gear 66 

